Combined scrubbing and shampooing means



Nov. 11, 1969 QDERMANN ET AL 3,477,082

COMBINED SCRUBBING AND SHAMPOOING MEANS Filed Aug 24, 19 64 2 Sheets-Sheet l 22 36 2 y \JL" Willard A.. Dix

BY 7ITORNEY Nov. 11, 1969 Q ODERMANN ET AL 3,477,082

COMBINED SCRUBBING AND SHAMPOOING MEANS Filed Aug 24, 1964 I z'sheets-sh et'z 7/ I32 Is? v i= 44 4} 44 44 '7 avail? '6' "n lf g 43 I64 m 24 I62 [64 42 Fig. 3

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INVENTORS WITNESS Charles R, ()dermann Willard A, Dix 3 v BY g (3 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,477,082 COMBINED SCRUBBING AND SHAMPOOING MEANS Charles R. Odermann, Moutville, and Willard A. Dix, Plainfield, NJ., assignors to The Singer Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 391,590

Int. Cl. A47] 11/34 US. C]. -98 9 Claims This invention relates to the art of scrubbing and shampooing carpets, rugs and other articles, and more particularly to the provision of means for generating foam and dispensing the same on a rug or other surface, and one of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide an improved device of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved rug scrubbing and shampooing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved unitary foam generating and dispensing attachment which can easily be connected to or disconnected from a scrubbing and shampooing machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for receiving liquid and causing it to foam.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved attachment for receiving a liquid, causing it to foam and then delivering the foam to a rug, carpet or other surface.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. I

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the center line of a foam producing rug scrubbing or shampooing machine embodying the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing a modified form of foaming attachment, adapted for use with the machine illustrated in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing another modified form of foaming attachment.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the invention has been illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as comprising a pair of foaming attachments 1616 which are mounted on and rotatably driven by a combination scrubbing or shampooing machine designated generally by the numeral 17.

The machine 17 comprises a preferably metallic chassis 18, the upper portion of which supports an electric motor 19. The chassis 18 and the motor 19 are covered by a preferably plastic appearance housing 21. The chassis 18 houses a plurality of gears (not shown) which, in a known manner, are driven by the motor 19, and the gears (not shown) in turn rotate a pair of (only one of which is shown) vertical shafts 22. An upper portion of each shaft 22 is provided with an abutment collar 23 and the lower end of each shaft 22 carries a small preferably hexagonal driving flange 24, the purpose of which will presently be described.

Each of the foaming attachments 16 comprises a preferably cylindrical hub portion 32 and a plate portion 33. The hub 32 is provided with a pair of vertically disposed threaded holes 34 for accommodating a pair of headed screws 36 which secure a cap 37 and a circular flexible plastic diaphragm 38 to the top of the hub portion 32. The diaphragm 38, in its unstressed form is flat and lies 3,477,082 Patented Nov. 11, 1969 "ice in one plane and the lower surface of the diaphragm 38 adjacent to its periphery is glued or otherwise secured to the inner upper surface of a rigid plastic washer-shaped squeeze or wobble plate 40, presently to be discussed.

The hub 32 and a portion of the plate 33 are apertured, as at 39, to accommodate a hollow cylindrical soft rubber bushing 41, which bushing 41 is held in the aperture 39 by the cap 37. The foaming attachment 16 is mounted on the shaft 22 by the simple expedient of forcing the flange 24 into the slightly smaller central hole of the soft rubber bushing 41. In some respects the plate portion 33 of the foaming attachment 16 is similar to the button plate which forms the subject of a copending patent application, Serial No. 303,341, filed Aug. 20, 196-3, in the name of W. A. Dix and O. M. Porter, now Patent No. 3,181,190. Thus, sufiice it to say, that the plate portion 33 is formed with a plurality of depending semispherically-ended scrubbing buttons 42, each of which has a vertically extending central port or bore '43. All of the bores 43 are in communication with an annular trough 44 formed in the upper part of the plate portion 33. In addition to the above, the plate portion 33 has an annular elevated shelf 46 concentric with the hub portion 32. On top of this shelf 46 rests an annular sponge 47 which surrounds the hub portion 32. The shape of the sponge 47 is such that a radial cross section is in the form of a rectangle. On top of the sponge 47 rests the previously mentioned fiat washershaped squeeze plate 40, the upper surface of which is attached to the lower surface of the previously mentioned diaphragm 38. Thus the diaphragm 38 holds the squeeze plate 40 in position on top of the sponge 47 but at the same time allows the plate 40 to wobble with respect to the hub 32. In addition to the above, the chassis 18 carries a pair (only one being shown) of depending knob type cams 49, the lower end of which engages the upper surface of one of the squeeze plates 40.

A means for conducting a detergent or other cleaning liquid to the trough 44 and to the sponge 47 is provided. This means comprises a container (not shown) from which extends a hose 51, of which the lower end is con nected to a hollow block 52 having four spouts 53, 54, 55 and 56. The spouts 53 and 55 squirt liquid to the cylindrical side edges of sponges 4747 and the spouts 54, 56 supply liquid to the troughs 4444 of the two foaming attachments 1616.

Operation of the scrubbing and shampooing machine and of the foaming means shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is as follows. Each shaft 22 is driven by the motor 19, through gears (not shown), and rotation of the shafts 22 cause the attachments 16-16 to rotate. As the attachment 16 rotates liquid is supplied to the circumferential edge of the sponges 4747 and to the troughs 4444. Also as the attachment 16 rotates, the cam 49 rides along the top of the plate 40 in such a manner as to depress one side portion thereof. This squeezes successive portions of the sponge 47 and causes the sponge 47 to emit liquid in the form of foam. It has been found that desirable arrangement of parts is to have the cam 49 squeeze the sponge to about one-half of its original thickness. The foam from the sponge 47 enters the trough 44 and is deposited on the carpet or rug (not shown), through the ports 43 of the scrubbing buttons 42.

FIG. 3 illustrates a modified form of button plate 116 embodying the present invention and suitable for use with the scrubbing and shampooing machine illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Portions of the button plate designated by two-digit numerals in FIG. 3 are identical with portions of the plate designated by the same numerals in FIGS. 1 and 2. These portions of the button plate will not be re-described and therefore suflice it to say that the button plate 116, instead of having an elevated shelf similar to the elevated shelf 46 shown in FIG. 1, is formed with an annular cavity 146 bounded by an external cylindrical wall 161, an elongated hub 132 and a bottom wall or lower-shelf 162. The cavity 146 communicates with a plurality of downwardly extending ports 164 by which foam generated in the sponge 147 may pass directly from the sponge 147 to the rug, carpet or other surface (not shown) being cleaned. Also the button plate 116, instead of having a separately formed diaphragm 38 and squeeze plate 40 as shown in FIG. 1, is provided with a squeeze plate 140 having a flexible annular diaphragm 138 which at its outer edge is formed integral with the inner edge of the squeeze plate 140 and which at its inner edge is formed integral with a bushing 141. The bushing 141 is held to the button plate 116 by screws 36 and also receives the driving flange 24.

Operation of the rug scrubbing and shampooing means shown in FIG. 3 is substantially the same as the operation of the means shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The main difference being that the larger sponge 147 is capable of generating a greater amount of foam than does the sponge 47 and, in that, foam from the large sponge 147 is delivered to the rug, carpet or other surface through the two ports 43 and 164. Foam enters port 164 directly from the sponge 147, whereas foam is delivered to the ports 43 by first passing over the top of the wall 161 and then into the trough 44.

FIG. 4 illustrates another modified form of button plate 216 embodying the present invention and suitable for use with the scrubbing and shampooing machine illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The button plate 216 is the same as the button plate 116 except that the button plate 216 does not have an external cylindrical wall, similar to the wall 161 shown in FIG. 3, with wall 161 surrounding the outer circumference of the large sponge 147. Instead the button plate 216 has a portion 228 which joins the substantially cylindrical outer annular portion 244 with the bottom portion 162. The button plate 216 shown in FIG. 4 operates in substantially the same manner as the button plate 116 shown in FIG. 3, the only difference being that it is easier for foam to pass from the sponge 147 of FIG. 4 to the ports 43. This is because of the absence of a wall between the sponge 147 and the trough 44.

Having thus described the nature of the invention, what we claim herein is:

1. A foaming attachment adapted for use with a scrubbing and shampooing machine having a vertically disposed drive shaft and a depending camming button located adjacent to said shaft, said foaming attachment comprising cylindrical hub portion adapted to be connected to driven by said vertically disposed drive shaft, a shelf formed concentrically with respect to said hub, an annular sponge carried on said shelf, a flexible member carried by said hub, an annular squeeze plate secured to said flexible member and resting on said sponge and having an upper surface engageable by said camming button, a concentrically formed plate portion carried by said hub, said plate portion being formed with an annular trough, and a plurality of scrubbing buttons depending from the lower surface of said plate portion, at least one of said scrubbing buttons having a downwardly extending port, the upper end of which is in communication with said trough.

2. A foaming attachment adapted for use with a scrubbing and shampooing machine having a vertically disposed drive shaft and a depending camming means located adjacent to said shaft, said foaming attachment comprising a cylindrical hub portion adapted to be connected to and driven by said vertically disposed drive shaft, an annular cavity having a bottom wall and an outer cylindrical wall formed concentrically with respect to said hub, an annular sponge carried in said cavity, an annular squeeze plate resting on said sponge and having an upper surface engageable by said camming means, a flexible member connecting said squeeze plate to said hub, an annular trough located outside of and concentric with said outer cylindrical wall, and a plurality of scrubbing buttons depending from the lower surface of said foaming attachment, at least one of said scrubbing buttons having a downwardly extending port, the upper end of which is in communication with said trough.

3. A foaming attachment according to claim 2 wherein at least one exit port is formed in the bottom wall of said annular cavity.

4. A scrubbing and shampooing machine comprising in combination a non-rotatable chassis member; a vertically disposed drive shaft extending downwardly from said chassis member; an apertured rotary plate member driven by the lower end of said shaft, and mounted to rotate in spaced relationship to a portion of said chassis member and said plate member having downwardly extending scrubbing elements positioned in a circle adjacent to the outer circumference of said plate member; a sponge carried by one of said members; a washer-shaped wobble plate positioned adjacent to one surface of said sponge; and a camming device carried by the other of said members and having one of its ends positioned to engage the surface of said wobble plate, said sponge producing foam at a location above said aperture plate member, the foam dropping through the apertures in said plate member at locations within the boundary of the circle formed by said downwardly extending scrubbing elements.

5. A scrubbing and shampooing machine comprising in combination a non-rotatable chassis member; a vertically disposed drive shaft extending downwardly from said chassis member; a rotary plate member driven by the lower end of said shaft, and mounted to rotate in spaced relationship to a portion of said chassis member; a scrubbing element carried by said rotary plate member; a sponge carried by one of said members; means for supplying a cleaning compound to said sponge; a rigid washer-shaped wobble plate positioned adjacent to one surface of said sponge; a camming device carried by the other of said members and having one of its ends positioned to engage the surface of said wobble plate; a circular flexible plastic element positioned adjacent to said wobble plate and being arranged to hold said wobble plate in position with respect to said sponge but at the same time allowing said plate to wobble with respect to said shaft; and means for conveying foam from said sponge to a location adjacent to said scrubbing element.

6. A scrubbing and shampooing machine comprising in combination a non-rotatable chassis member; a vertically disposed drive shaft extending downwardly from said chassis member; a cylindrical apertured rotary plate member driven by the lower end of said shaft, and mounted to rotate in spaced relationship to a portion of said chassis member and said plate member having downwardly extending scrubbing elements positioned in a circle adjacent to the outer circumference of said plate member; an annular sponge carried by one of said members; a rigid cylindrical washer-shaped wobble plate positioned adjacent to one surface of said sponge; a camming device carried by the other of said members and engaging the surface of said wobble plate; and a flexible plastic means arranged to hold said wobble plate in position with respect to said sponge but at the same time allowing said plate to wobble with respect to said shaft and thereby produce foam at a location above said plate member, the foam dropping through the apertures in said plate member at locations within the boundary of the circle formed by said downwardly extending scrubbing elements.

7. A shampooing and scrubbing device comprising:

(a) a first element defining a casing,

(b) a shaft rotatably mounted on said casing,

(c) power means for rotating said shaft,

((1) a second element defining scrubbing means mounted on said shaft in spaced relation to said casing to define a foam generating space between Said first and second elements,

(e) contact means on one of said first and second elements projecting into said foam generating space,

(f) foam generating means including;

(aa) sponge means positioned on the other of said first and second elements in said foam generating space,

(bb) wear means positioned between said contact means and said sponge means, said wear means being fixed against relative sliding and rolling movement with respect to said sponge means,

(g) means for supplying solution to said sponge means,

(h) whereby when said scrubbing means is moved by rotation of said shaft there is relative movement between said contact means and said foam generating means thereby causing said sponge means to be compressed and expanded, all kinetic friction being developed solely between said wear means and said contact means with said sponge being subjected only to forces caused by compression and expansion and not to any kinetic frictional forces.

8. In a shampooing and scrubbing device including;

(a) afirst element comprising acasing,

(b) a shaft rotatably mounted on said casing,

(c) power means for rotating said shaft,

(d) a second element comprising scrubbing means mounted on said shaft,

(e) said scrubbing means having a plurality of holes therein and being spaced axially along said shaft from said casing to define a space between said scrubbing means and said casing axially of said shaft,

(f) a sponge positioned on said scrubbing means in said space,

(g) contact means on the other of said first and second elements projecting into said space, and

(h) wear means comprising a fiat rigid disc member positioned on said sponge between the sponge and said contact means,

(i) whereby when said scrubbing means is rotated by said shaft there is relative movement between said sponge and said contact means causing said sponge to be alternately compressed and expanded.

9. In a shampooing and scrubbing device including;

(a) a first element comprising a casing,

(b) a shaft rotatably mounted on said casing,

(0) power means for rotating said shaft,

(d) a second element comprising scrubbing means mounted on said shaft,

(e) said scrubbing means being spaced axially along said shaft from said casing to define a space between said scrubbing means and said casing axially of said shaft,

(f) a sponge positioned on one of said first and second elements in said space,

(g) contact means on the other of said first and second elements projecting into said space, and

(h) wear means comprising a flat rigid disc member positioned between said sponge and said contact means,

(i) restraining means for preventing relative rotation between said sponge and said disc member,

(j). whereby when said scrubbing means is rotated by said shaft there is relative movement between said sponge and said contact means causing said sponge to be alternately compressed and expanded.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,929,345 10/1933 Brown et a1 15-98 X 3,024,484 3/1962 Wallace 1550 3,212,117 10/1965 Ernstberger 15-50 EDWARDS L. ROBERTS, Primary Examiner 

1. A FOAMING ATTACHMENT ADAPTED FOR USE WITH A SCRUBBING AND SHAMPOOING MACHINE HAVING A VERTICALLY DISPOSED DRIVE SHAFT AND A DEPENDING CAMMING BUTTON LOCATED ADJACENT TO SAID SHAFT, SAID FOAMING ATTACHMENT COMPRISING CYLINDRICAL HUB PORTION ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO DRIVEN BY SAID VERTICALLY DISPOSED DRIVE SHAFT, A SHELF FORMED CONCENTRICALLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID HUB, AN ANNULAR SPONGE CARRIED ON SAID SHELF, A FLEXIBLE MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID HUB, AN ANNULAR SQUEEZE PLATE SECURED TO SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER AND RESTING ON SAID SPONGE AND 